If you're expecting LSU to stockpile OLs the way it does DBs and RBs, you may wait a long time.

While SEC country may produce more than its share of elite linemen, I've always found that it doesn't translate to depth of quality linemen in the same way it seems backs (both offense and defense) seem to fall off trees down here.

I'll put it like this: If you take a second-tier Big 10 or Big East or maybe even a Pac-12 team and have their coaches watch a film of Northwestern State, McNeese and Sam Houston, there would be a few DBs, WRs and RBs that would make the BE/B10/P12 coach say "Wow, wish we had that guy." Linemen? Not so much, maybe one or two.

There are great linemen down here, but just enough to give everybody just enough. I've never seen LSU 9-10 deep with quality, game-ready o-linemen. I would never expect that to be the case. If they ever truly get that deep, to me, that would be Lagniappe.

Having proper depth on the OLine, especially the OTs, is what is needed. And we can do that with the numbers we have now.

But we need to space them out properly if we are not going to stockpile them. Otherwise we will have three or so guys ready for later on in the season or next year, and not right now (which is what we are experiencing at this time).

What happens on the O-line is you get guys that can help you 2-3 years on the back end -- in other words, after redshirting and maybe riding serious pine as a freshman -- more than any other position.

You get projects. and you have far fewer guys ready to play right away the way Vadal Alexander came pretty much ready.

What LSU does is more typical in my experience. You have eight guys you are happy with to start the season. Each week, you get guys ready to back up certain positions that particular week. But if there's a long-term injury, you reshuffle to get your best five on the field.

Trai Turner wasn't mentioned much before the season, but they needed to get him ready because when Dworaczyk moved to tackle, they needed another guard to come in behind Collins and Williford. To me, if a guard goes down during the Towsend game, Turner plays. But if that guard is still out at Florida, I don't expect Turner to start. I'd expect a reshuffle that probably moves Dworaczyk back inside and Alexander at tackle because Alexander, not Turner, was in their original top eight.

I just think they left Collins at guard because he hasn't 100 percent grasped that position yet, so it would be tough to get him even further behind the learning curve by moving him. Notice with young players, they stick at one position while older players moved around. When Collins went down, Williford moved over to his spot and Turner moved to right guard because that's where he practices.

re: Laremy Tunsil or any other OTs interested?(Posted by CalTiger on 9/27/12 at 9:51 am to dstone12)

quote:But proper depth ensures that there is a guy waiting in the wings that is already able to play.

There is a reason why that is not easy

quote:I know, easier said than done, but this is why we are in trouble now.

OL is the toughest position to evaluate for making the transition for high school to college. An OL could get be successful due to sheer size and/or athleticism. They often play against badly over-matched defensive lines and don't have to work on techniques, footwork and agility.

So unless if someone manages to capture lady luck and ensure a 2 deep line it is one of the main causes for offenses failing once every few years.

You need to look no further than USC - decimated by injuries/scholarships , the first string is excellent but the backups don't have enough experience/abilities.

Give the average OLs a couple of years experience and they can more than supplement the line with just one or two great players.

Unfortunately for LSU - the anchor Faulk got hurt and screwed up the cycle.

re: Laremy Tunsil or any other OTs interested?(Posted by RATeamWannabe on 9/29/12 at 10:33 am to dstone12)

Jesus kid, the butt hurt is strong with you.

QB is an important position too, but we don't have 7 of them. We don't have 7 wide receivers right now, and they play 4 at a time. With 85 scholarships, its not practical to stack 7 players when you only start one. Not to mention how difficult it is to recruit a single game changing LT, much less more than one.

Thank God kids like you aren't in control of the recruiting board for LSU, you would run this program into the ground